Method of forming designs in knitted or woven fabric of synthetic polyamide fibers such as nylon



E. F. SEEMULLER July 15, 1947. 2,424,124 7 METHOD OF FORMING DESIGNS' 1N KNITTED OR WOVEN FABRIC OF SYNTHETIC 'POLYAMIDE FIBERS SUCH AS NYLON Filed March 20, 1947 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEY- Tatented July 15, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A METHOD OF FORMING DESIGNS IN KNITTED OR WOVEN FABRIC OF SYN- THETIC POLYAMIDE FIBERS SUCH AS NYLON 4 Claims.

The object of this invention is to devise a novel method of forming a design, such as for example a number, letter, name, pictorial illustration or other desired insignia, in knitted or woven nylon fabric.

In carrying out the invention, selected stitches are enlarged or stretched and then subjected to heat to permanently set the stretched stitches.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as will hereinafter clearly appear, my invention comprehends a novel method of forming designs in knitted or woven fabric by enlarging or stretching selected stitches to form a predetermined design and thereafter subjecting the design to heat to permanently set the stretched stitches forming the design.

The method can be carried out in practice in many diii'erent ways by insertion of one or more points into the fabric, and for purpose of illustration I have shown in the drawings a typical embodiment of one manner of accomplishing the formation of the design.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of fabric with a design formed therein.

Figure 2 is a. perspective view of a typical stretching and setting device which can be used in carrying out in practice the invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

In Figure l, I have shown a strip of fabric l, for example the welt of a stocking having a design oi' any desired character formed therein.

In Figure 2, I have shown a device for stretching and setting selected stitches for forming a design.

A male die 3 has points 4 inserted therein to form a desired design. and has a steam chest through which dry heat or live steam is passed by pipes I and 8 from a suitable source of supply. The temperature is controlled in any desired or conventional manner. The result is that the points are heated to a desired temperature so that when inserted in the fabric the stitches are enlarged or stretched to a desired size. The point or points can be inserted cold if desired. The method as set forth can be used on nylon hosiery or fabric in the Greige state before or after preboarding or in the finished stockings.

The method can be used in any nylon knitted or woven fabric.

It is to be understood that where in the claims. I use the term design, such term is to include a number, letter, word, pictorial illustration .or other insignia.

The points may have any desired shape in cross-section and their free ends are pointed.

the fabric to heat while said portions are in a stretched condition to set said stretched portions of the threads in their stretched condition.

2. The method of forming a design in nylon fabric, which comprises enlarging the normal distance between the threads at selected points of the fabric by exerting suflicient pressure against selected portions of the threads at said points to stretch said portions with elements penetrating through the fabric, and simultaneously subjecting the fabric to heat while said pertions are in a stretched condition to set said stretched portions of the threads in their stretched condition.

3. The method of forming a design in nylon fabric, which comprises prior to preboarding enlarging the normal distance between the threads at selected points of the fabric by exerting sufficient pressure against selected portions of the threads at said points to stretch said portions with elements penetrating through the fabric, and subjecting the fabric to heat while said portions are in a stretched condition to set said stretched portions of the threads in their stretched condition.

4. The method of forming a design in nylon fabric, which comprises subsequently to preboarding enlarging the normal distance between the threads at selected points of the fabric by exerting sumcient pressure against selected portions of the threads at said points to stretch said portions with elements penetrating through the fabric, and subjecting the fabric to heat while said portions are in a stretched condition to set said stretched portion of the threads in their stretched condition.

ELMER. F. SEEMULLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,157,116 Carothers May 9, 1939 2,213,797 Claussner Sept. 3, 1940 v 2.285.967 Hardy June 9, 1942 

